Driver cited for tailgating in Route 322 crash

WEST BRADFORD — One driver was cited for following too closely after an accident at Route 322 and Bradford Avenue sent one person to the hospital Wednesday evening, according to state police.

Police said a Ford F-250 pickup, driven by 49-year-old Philip Fidalgo of West Chester, was traveling west on Route 322 when a vehicle ahead of the truck came to a complete stop to make a left turn onto Bradford Avenue. Fidalgo, who was towing a utility trailer loaded with landscaping equipment, had insufficient time to react and slammed on his brakes before swerving into the road’s eastbound lane, according to police. Fidalgo’s truck then collided head-on with a Mitsubishi Outlander that had been traveling east.

The driver of the Outlander, 20-year-old Rebekah Debarberie of Downingtown, was trapped inside her heavily damaged vehicle for about 15 minutes as firefighters worked to free her. She was then transported to Paoli Hospital with moderate injuries, police said. No one else was injured in the crash.

Police said a third vehicle, a Nissan Quest minivan, collided with the rear of Fidalgo’s trailer after it jackknifed during the crash. The occupants of all three vehicles were wearing seat belts at the time of the crash, according to police.